Wildfire smoke prompts air quality alert

Air quality in Great Falls was listed as unhealthy for sensitive groups on Saturday, but it didn’t keep some people from getting out and trying to enjoy what should have been a nice summer day.

People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and the very young should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion when outdoors.

Smoke from wildfires has prompted the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to issue an air quality alert for counties in the southwest part of the state, including Missoula.

Strong winds associated with Friday’s cold front have brought in an enormous amount of smoke to Montana due to a rapid increase in fire activity in Idaho and Montana on Friday.

Fire chief Jeff Miller said this morning that no forest fires are burning in the immediate Butte area.

There are a lot of fires burning throughout the region, and we’ve had some new starts in Montana, including several fires in the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

Air quality in Libby and Flathead Valley is now UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS.

The rain we’re expecting today should improve air quality. Bullitt… Oldham… Clark… and Floyd counties, the forecast for air quality index to top the 100 mark goes out much further.